LETTER: Leaving pets unattended just irresponsible action

Recently I was driving on Haynes Drive and hit my brake as I saw a young cat suddenly dart out in front of me, and in the split second that I hit my brake, managed to avoid it.

However, the poor cat wasn't so lucky with the car coming from the other direction in the opposite lane. I heard the small thud and knew the worst had happened.

After pulling over, I hoped that by some miracle the cat was only stunned and could be saved. Instead, as I rushed over, I saw it writhing in agony for several seconds before dying in front of my eyes.

Perhaps the cat was a stray with no owner who cared. Perhaps it had an irresponsible owner who doesn't keep pets indoors, where they belong. There is no excuse for allowing a pet to roam outdoors unsupervised with all the dangers of vehicles, large animal attacks and diseases.

To quote Mahatma Gandhi: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."